Right now I think if I picked 3 rums only it would be Smith & Cross, Plantation O.F.T.D., and Plantation 3 Stars. With that, you have a funky amber rum, a toasty dark rum, and a fruity light rum.

Superb list. I'd go with Smith & Cross, Flor de Caña 7 (any 5-8 year old Spanish column still will work here), and Hamilton 86. Two bonuses: OFTD and any cachaça.

Smith & Cross - Probitas/Veritas - Doorly's 5

Leaning towards Flor de Cana 4yo for light rum, Pussers blue label for dark as has plenty of Guyana rum in it, and Smith & Cross to cover overproof and Jamaican.

I generally only keep three in my house anyway, and one of those is for the wife. Mostly because of lack of storage space. Plus I've also learned that I cannot keep bottles of rum near my computer, because if I do I will not keep them for very long.

If you limit me to 3 bottles, then I would want a former English colony, a former Spanish colony, and a former French colony-style rum/rhum. For English, I would strongly recommend Appleton 12. If that is cost prohibitive, then Appleton Signature is a great choice. I cannot argue with Smith & Cross, but Hampden 8 is WAY too funky for the new rum enthusiast. For a former French Colony, this was is easy- Rhum J.M Cuvée Volcanique. For a former Spanish colony, I would pick Bacardi 8 year, but cannot argue with the Don Q 7. The issue is I have not picked a lightly aged filtered rum, such as Havana Club 3, El Dorado 3, or Plantation 3 Star. If I were buying rum for cocktails, how do you omit a classic Daiquiri, so I would pick Havana Club 3 over my pick of Bacardi 8. Lastly, if I was buying rums to sip, I would replace Appleton Bay 12 with El Dorado 12 or 15.

Wow cracking video steve. 3 ive not tried so can't comment on whether id switch them out. I probably would have gone for a sipper as a rum fashioned is a very easy first cocktail and i think barbados is great for that. As a cheeky suggestion would love to see a which flavour bitters for cocktail riffs video. I know you're a big fan of bitters.

Thank you Steve for another great and balanced video. I watch in the USA. I've lived in Florida and moved to Maine recently. Apparently, in Maine, I have zero accessibilty to my rums that are available to the residents of Florida. I'm missing my Denizens and El Doradors immensly! My 3 beginner rums would be Planeray 3 star (formerly Plantation), Appleton 12 ( Fish House Punch is a favorite cocktail that calls for the Smith and Cross that you featured but I ran out and swapped in the Appleton 12 and that one change sold me on Appleton 12) and my third pick would be Pussers Gunpowder Proof (based on my choices in the state of Maine)(but OFTD is a really close choice too!)

I would definitely need a white so my 3 for cocktails would be Chairman’s white, Hampden overproof and something like Bacardi 8. But tomorrow I might pick something else.

As for myself, at the moment, it’s Denezens for my Mai Tais. I’m settling on that. Smith&Cross is a great choice. And yes, an aged Cuban/Puerto Rican style for my daiquiris. Although I can live with Don Q Crystal or Bacardi silver. Like you, I love daiquiris. I can live without spiced rums but they’re nice in a rum&cola which I get a hankering for occasional. Your choices sound good. I haven’t tried some of the rums you have but the styles are versatile. But to be real, there’s no way for me at this point can I have just 3! Good vid.

I usually have 4: a light, a dark and 2 overproof. And I prejudicially favor Jamaican rums.

I haven't found your specific main three in my area, just other offering of those brands but I do want to try them. I have been blending Appleton Estate 12 and Pusser's Gunpowder Proof for Mai Tais, Jungle Birds, and Bahama Mamas etc and Plantation 3 Stars for Piña Coladas & Daiquiris. My guests seem pleased. I made a Jungle Bird last night using just Plantation Original Dark and it was delicious. Friday were having guests and I'm going to make a different tropical cocktail for each. It should be fun.

I'm only in my second year after getting tired of Scotch after 30+ years. I don't have much available. I've been through Bacardi, Appleton, Brugal, Plantation varieties...so as of now #1 Pussers Blue Label, #2 George Bowman Dark (Guyana) #3 Smith and Cross. I've got a lot to discover yet... and that's exciting.

Smith & Cross, Lemon Hart 151, Plantation 3 star

For cocktails I have Plantation 3 star and Smith and Cross. For sipping it’s Plantation XO 20th anniversary. The selection is pretty limited where I live.

Hello Steve. This question is not easy because there is a long list of what is good which allows for variation. To name some that are out of the ordinary but easy to find. Compagnie des Indes Jamaica Navy strength (40€), Mhoba OAK (40€) and for the lightest Malécon 10 years (35€). I also recommend the Guyanese bottler XM with 7, 10, 12 and 15 years all excellent value for money from €30 to €45. Cheers🧉

Based on availability here in Australia, my three picks would be: Plantation 3 Star, Appleton 8 and El Dorado 12.

You definitely put some thought into this and have some great picks and I can't really disagree with you. I might have considered Wray and Nephew Ovenproof in the Jamaican, it definitely delivers the funk and can be used in conjunction with the other 2 picks to round things out. I also might have gone with Bacardi Ocho over the Don Q but that is personal preference, Ocho is highly overlooked here, especially given the price point, available for around $25 here in the U.S. As far as the third choice the Chairman's Reserve is a great pick and no argument there, but I might have given some thought to Lemon Hart & Son 1804, given the friendly price (don't know if that is available there in the UK). Real hard to narrow it to just 3. Heck, if I was thinking Daiquiris only I might lean towards the Real McCoy 3 Year out of Foursquare.

If I had to only pick 3, I'd go with Don Q Reserva 7, Smith and Cross, and Planteray 3 Star.

I would pick Don Q 7 very versatile rum that could work in tiki, tropical and even Rum & Coke. OFTD for something tasty and overproof. Finally El Dorado 12 for sipping, rum fashioned and cocktails where I want the body of a Demerara rum.

I compared Plantation, Smith & Cross, and Hampden 8 to App 12 and I still prefer App 12 (Loving the Brown Sugar, Molasses, and Tropical Notes). IMO my 3 rums are App 12, El Dorado 15, & Foursquare 2008

Three bottles is hard and your choices are excellent, but I couldn’t bring myself to have only 3 and not have a daiquiri rum. Here are my 3: Plantation 3 Star (because it makes an excellent Daiquiri and also a great Hotel Nacional); Worthy Park 109 (for Mai Tais); and Real McCoy 12 (for the corn n’ oil and neat sipping). Narrowly missing out would be Probitas/Veritas, Denizen’s Merchant’s Reserve, and El Dorado 12 in each category.

Great Video m8 although a bit late in my journey to be narrowing it down to just 3 rums 😆 but…….. joking aside that’s been 3 on my list for years and 3 I’ve not actually got 🙈😬😆

So far i have bacardi white,havvana club 3 and special. Want to explore sipping rums.

If there were only 3 rums to choose from right now - I'd pick Rum Fire to cover white, overproof, and Jamaican categories. Rhum JM Gold for an Agricole. And Hamilton 86 Demerara because it's so tasty under $30.

Plantation 3star, Eldorado 12, Smith & Cross

Plantation (Plantery rums since end of Jan 2024), rum's final blending is in France to the best of my knowledge. You need Foursquare Rum (their "exceptional cask selection being rather tasty") or St. Nicholas Abbey Rum to be a more "authentic" is'a bajan taste. Less sugar. If I make brie in the UK with french ingredients,is it still brie?

Hi Steve, not sure if you can get Dictador in your area, its hands down the be all and end all for rum for my tastes. The 12 is a great all rounder, sipper, mixer etc, the 20 is a stunning sipper. Further up the tree ... Diplomatico Ambassador and Ron Millonario XO are two of my favorite special occasion rums.

@StevetheBarmanUK

3 ай бұрын

Ha, watch Tuesdays video on my Blue Channel 👍

What about a rhum agricole?

I think Appleton 8 is a better starter than Chairmans. Agree with WP. I would for sure recommend a Demerara instead of Don Q. Why not El Dorado 8

Hi Steve big fan of your channel ! Did you ever drank Acerum ? Please let me know your thoughts thank you !

@StevetheBarmanUK

4 ай бұрын

Not heard of it, sorry.

@oncleiroh3693

3 ай бұрын

@@StevetheBarmanUK Acerum is the name used to describe maple eau de vie (brandy) made in Quebec, Canada, following the specifications of Canada's the Union of Maple Spirits Distillers (UDSÉ). Acerum comes from the Latin words “acer” meaning maple and the English word “rum”. It refers to fermentation and distillation similar to rum, but where maple syrup replaces the cane sugar found in rum. I wish I could send you a bottle haha !

I don’t make it past 1 bottle… it’s gone before I get another 😂.

Plantation OFTD Plantation 5 yr Plantation stiggans

So, i drink 3 rums in the morning, i drink 3 rums at night. I drink 3 rums in the afternoon and then i feel alright..

Can't seem to find Don Q 7 near me. I only see the Don Q Gold and 151. Would you recommend a Barcardi or Flor de Cana or Diplomatico as a substitute?

@rinx34

4 ай бұрын

Diplo is very very appropriate in daiquiri. For me personally better than 3Star. As its more refined, sharp, clean, crisp